Coil form



0 29, 1963 R. c. AHLENE 1 3,108,763

COIL FORM Filed Jan. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARD C AHLENE ATTORNEY 7 Oct. 29, 1963 Filed Jan. 2, 1962 R. c. AHLENE 3,108,763

con. FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RICHARD C. AHL ENE United States Patent M 3,103,763 GL FURM Richard C. Ahiene, Qordova, Calli, assiguor to AeroiehGeuei-al Corporation, Azusa, Calirfi, a corpora= tion of (thin Fired Jan. 2, 1962, er. No. 163,727 1 (Claim. (Q1. 242-115) This invention relates to collapsible structures generally and more specifically to structures which may be utilized as coil forms.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a structure which may be collapsed into a number of smaller parts for easy storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a coil form which is useful in the design of transformers, chokes and other inductances in the experimental layout stage.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a composite coil form, the parts of which may be made in various sizes, whereby various combinations in the assembly of these parts will produce assembled coil forms in a wide variety of sizes.

In its principal aspect, the present invention comprises a structure which may be used in the design of various inductances in the layout stage, such as transformers, chokes and the like. Three pairs of members are provided, each member of each pair matching the other member of that pair, with each pair of members being nonmatching with any other pair, and one pair being resilient, which when assembled together form a hollow rectangular box having a peripheral flange at each end.

These and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein;

FIGURE 1 is a flat pattern illustration of the three pairs of matching members needed to assemble the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric drawing of an assembled structure of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view illustrating how the three pairs of members join to make a completed structure; and

FIGURE 4 is an isometric drawing showing how two pairs of members are initially assembled.

Referring to FiGURE 1, the three pairs of members having a total of six members, which constitute an assembled structure, are shown in flat pattern for clarity in describing the various features of each member. All members shown have been made of a nonconductive phenolic material approximately one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness, although other materials and thicknesses may be employed.

Generally, the three pairs of members include a first pair of members each having a cutout center portion for receiving the end portions of a second and a third pair of members. The members of the second and third pairs of members are spaced from each other and each member of the second pair is disposed at right angles to each member of the third pair, with one of the pairs of members having slots for receiving tabs on the other pair of.

members and one of the pairs of members being relatively resilient. The members of the second and third pairs of members are also disposed at right angles to the members of the first pair whereby, when all the pairs of members are assembled, a rectangular box having a peripheral flange at each end is provided.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the first pair of members comprises, spaced apart, parallel end pieces 12 which are rectangular in shape and each has a rectangular cutout center portion 14. The length and 7 3,108,763 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 width of the cutout portion 14 is determined by features of the second and third pairs of membersto be described hereinbelow.

The second pair of members comprises top and bottom pieces 18 of like configuration, both of which are generally rectangular in shape except for tabs 22 and notches 24 located at each corner thereof. The distance between the bottom of notches 24 at the same end of the top and bottom pieces 18 is the same as the length of the longest side 26 of the cutout center portion 14 of each end piece 12. Also the notches 24 are spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the spaced end pieces 12 and the top and bottom pieces 18 are of a length greater than the distance between end pieces 12 plus two material thicknesses of each piece 12. Located the same distance in from either side as the notches 24 are deep, and positioned midway between the ends 28, 30 of the top and bottom pieces 18, are slots 32, 34. These slots are equal in width to one material thickness and equal in length to tabs 36, 38 located midway along the longest sides 40 of side pieces 20.

The side pieces 26 constitute the third pair of members. The tabs 36, 38 of the side pieces 20 extend laterally from the longest side 40, which abuts or faces the top and bottom pieces 18 when assembled. The tabs 36', 38 preferably extend outwardly a distance equal to one material thickness of the top and bottom pieces 18 so that the tabs will just fit into slots 32, 34 thereby interconnecting the second and third pairs of members. The width or shortest side 44 of the side pieces 26 is equal in length to the shortest side 46 of the cutout portion 14 in the end pieces 12 minus two material thicknesses of the top and bottom pieces 18. The length of the longest side 40 of the side pieces 21) is equal to the longest side 50 of the top and bottom pieces 18. It is helpful that either the second or third pairs of members, and preferably the second pair 18, be resilient to facilitate the assembly of all three pairs of members.

As may be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, when the six pieces of the coil form are brought into proximity as shown in FIGURE 3, the parts will fit together as shown in the completely assembled coil form 10 of FIGURE 2. However, as shown in FIGURE 4, it will be necessary to place the resilient top and bottom pieces 18 through the cutout center portion 1a of both the end pieces 12 in an opposite corner or diagonal attitude as a first step. The top and bottom pieces 18 are then spread apart inside the cutout portion 14 against the longest sides 26 of the cutout portion 14. The end pieces 12 will fit snugly in the notches 24 of the top and bottom pieces 18. The tabs 22 serve to retain the top and bottom pieces 18 in the cutout portions 14 and therefore prevent the top and bottom pieces from becoming disconnected from the end pieces 12. The side pieces 20 are then placed at an angle through the cutout center portion 14 of both the end pieces 12 with one of the set of tabs, for example tab 36, fitted into slots 32, 34 of the top piece 18. Then the side pieces 24 are spread apart and due to the resiliency of the top and bottom pieces 18 the side pieces may be pushed against the shortest sides 46 of the cutout portion 14 of the end pieces 20. When this occurs the tabs 33 of the side pieces will become snugly fitted into the slots 32, 34 of the bottom pieces 18 thereby interconnecting each side piece 2a with each top and bottom piece 18. The top and bottom pieces 18 will then be disposed at a right angle to the side pieces 24 and both pairs of these pieces will be at right angles to the end pieces 12. The rectangular coil form is now completely assembled and ready to use.

The invention should not be construed as limited to the details of the particular embodiment shown and described, which are given by way of illustration rather than limita- 3 tion and the invent-ion should not be limited except in accordance with the appended claim.

I claim:

A coil form structure which may be easily and quickly assembled and collapsed comprising a pair of end members each having a cut out portion therein, a pair of side members rectangular in shape and notched on opposite sides thereof to engage said end members and space the end members a selected distance apant when engaged, said side members each having a pair of slots each intermediate two of said notches and substantially parallel to said opposite sides, and a pair of rectangular closure members having substantially the same length as said side members, said closure members having a pair of tabs each positioned for engagement With one of said siots whereby upon engaging said notches in said end members and said tabs in said slots a semi-rigid structure is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,776 Stolp Jan. 31, 1933 

